Sharing the trial and error learned lessons of a MS spouse caregiver / carer about family, home care, and transition to the care facility era from 23 years of living with Multiple Sclerosis as a family ... a ‘warts and all’ picture of living with MS.

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Caregiving: bureaucracy & free thinkers

Yesterday we renewed Patti’s Pennsylvania Photo ID. In post 9/11 America whether you drive or not you NEED an official photo ID.

Any such collision with the bureaucracy of the able bodied is always interesting. For example, Patti cannot see far enough to “please look at the red mark on the camera and smile if you like”. My favorite was “Please sign your name WITHIN this box on this card” to which Patti responded “What card?” <grin> Everyone must maintain patience and a sense of humor.

… and as noted in another caregiver journal, surprisingly this motor vehicle satellite center also had NO designated accessible parking. We used a grocery store’s accessible parking about a block away.

In Pennsylvania you also have the option to take care of voter registration at the same time. Confirming her voter registration I had to smile, our family of three includes one Democrat, one Independent, and one Republican. “Living with MS” has obviously created an environment of free thinkers <grin>.

Considering the three different venues of thinking in the family, I am laughing at how each one of you will handle the no assessible parking situation at a state government facility! It's sure to be there next time if all three of you act upon it! LOLJackie

.......hee hee, Jack can not yet get a valid Oklahoma Driver's License because he must get a doctor's exam sent into the state because we did mention that he had a mild case of Parkenson's Disease. (mild is the doctor's term). We even have had to have his vision tests in California faxed because that is part of the exam, however; he was able to pass the vision test without glasses! He cannot see a doctor for pain managment without the valid Oklahoma Driver's license. This has been going on for weeks---------and no van accessible parking place! We will not start proceedings on that until we get the valid Oklahoma License! lol

hey Patrick, congrats on being a guest editor's pick!!! That is fantastic!! I'm sorry though that its in the situation of dealing with a chronic illness that you wrote such a great blog, though. I'm sure you would rather have a healthy wife and not the recognition of a being a guest editor's pick.